Fun everyday driver

[Poc854]

Hello I am currently looking to change my daily driver to something that's still practical but also fun to take out a drive.
My criteria is,
Must be under £10,000
At most 10 years old

Some examples are the Kia ceed gt, megane rs 250,265, focus st, gt86 etc

[biggbn]

A fast Mini would be my choice at that budget although the Kia is a great shout. Engine is old school innefocent turbo though, not very frugal!!

[Zarco]

Faced with that choice I always go Renault Sport it seems.

I've run a Megane 275 since 2017 as a daily do everything car. Albeit we have a Qashqai as a family car, but the Meg still has a child seat in the back.

[LuS1fer]

It depends on your use and size requirement but I had two Mk 7 Fiesta STs which were about perfect and the only car I've ever replaced with another (albeit a Mountune 215 for the second).

I still wish I'd kept it, TBH.

[Gilhooligan]

Megane RS 250 Cup would be my choice. Just sold mine after 2.5 years if ownership.

Fast, can see 35mpg if you’re careful on a long run, lots of mod cons if you get a good spec one, fun on track but can do daily duties very well (if you don’t mind the suspension being a little stiff). They’re fairly uncommon and stand out which is a bonus (if that’s your thing).

[PH User]

Agree with everyone else, the Megane is your best option.

[The spinner of plates]

Golf GTI

[Bill]

MX5!

[Poc854]

I do really like the Megane but what's it like for reliability and parts cost, also are they hard to work on as I do most of the maintenance myself.

As for the fiesta st and golf gti they do look like great cars I just don't like the reputation they have.

The mx5 is out of the question, not that practical and I don't like convertibles.

[PH User]

The Megane is actually very reliable. The Golf makes a better daily but a worse fun car.

[Poc854]

Are parts expensive and they hard to work on?.

[LuS1fer]

Poc854 said:

As for the fiesta st and golf gti they do look like great cars I just don't like the reputation they have.

You mean the image! Me too but I was sold on the ST the second I drive it and I'm 62. Really gelled with my STs, one black, one Spirit Blue. Lovely.
I was tempted by the Renault too but used to have a Fuego and parts were never cheap.
Worth checking insurance as the ST is also surprisingly low.

[ChrisH72]

What’s your current car?

I also have a mk7 fiesta st. Went round in circles before buying it because I was also a bit bothered by the image and the reputation for being stolen. After driving a few alternatives I was sold on the Ford because it’s just such a blast to drive, is very cheap to run and has enough practicality to daily for me (also have a child seat in the back). That said, I don’t do long distances in it. If you do then a slightly bigger car may suit better.

The other car that ran the fiesta close was the 208 gti.

You get a much newer car with less miles for your money. It’s quick and the interior feels very nice. As a daily it could be a better option as the ride is more forgiving. For what I was looking for it just wasn’t quite as exciting as the ST.

The GT86 is worth a look if it has enough practicality for you but there are not many available for 10k at the moment.

[AKA PABS]

The wife’s R56 JCW factory is a hoot to drive. So that’s my recommendation.

[LuS1fer]

ChrisH72 said:

What’s your current car?

I also have a mk7 fiesta st. Went round in circles before buying it because I was also a bit bothered by the image and the reputation for being stolen. After driving a few alternatives I was sold on the Ford because it’s just such a blast to drive, is very cheap to run and has enough practicality to daily for me (also have a child seat in the back). That said, I don’t do long distances in it. If you do then a slightly bigger car may suit better.

The other car that ran the fiesta close was the 208 gti.

You get a much newer car with less miles for your money. It’s quick and the interior feels very nice. As a daily it could be a better option as the ride is more forgiving. For what I was looking for it just wasn’t quite as exciting as the ST.

The GT86 is worth a look if it has enough practicality for you but there are not many available for 10k at the moment.

I was going to swop my first ST for a very nice 208 GTi but after a test drive, the 208 was a bit flat and the standard ST blew it away, apart from the interior. Maybe it was a poor example because it's much the same engine in my Insignia which is great.

The GTi is great value though

[Poc854]

ChrisH72 said:

What’s your current car?

I also have a mk7 fiesta st. Went round in circles before buying it because I was also a bit bothered by the image and the reputation for being stolen. After driving a few alternatives I was sold on the Ford because it’s just such a blast to drive, is very cheap to run and has enough practicality to daily for me (also have a child seat in the back). That said, I don’t do long distances in it. If you do then a slightly bigger car may suit better.

The other car that ran the fiesta close was the 208 gti.

You get a much newer car with less miles for your money. It’s quick and the interior feels very nice. As a daily it could be a better option as the ride is more forgiving. For what I was looking for it just wasn’t quite as exciting as the ST.

The GT86 is worth a look if it has enough practicality for you but there are not many available for 10k at the moment.

I currently have a mk6 golf tdi

[Gilhooligan]

Poc854 said:

I do really like the Megane but what's it like for reliability and parts cost, also are they hard to work on as I do most of the maintenance myself.

As for the fiesta st and golf gti they do look like great cars I just don't like the reputation they have.

The mx5 is out of the question, not that practical and I don't like convertibles.

Megane is more reliable than old French car stereotypes will have you believe. The car has a pretty complicated front suspension setup which can be costly to fix. Engine bay cramped like most modern stuff so maybe not the easiest to work on. Cambelt is a big job due to aforementioned space constraints. They are generally pretty tough cars though with a big following/ scene. Plenty of them with 100k+ miles getting tracked.

[Poc854]

Ok thanks everyone for the help, I am going to have a look at the Megane rs250, 208 gti, fiesta and focus st and maybe the up or polo gti

[georgeyboy12345]

Here are my recommendations, in order of preference

Peugeot 308 GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...


Kia Ceed GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...


Renaultsport Megane
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110158...


Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...


Mini Cooper S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110238...


Ford Fiesta ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110309...


Renaultsport Clio 200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108226...


Abarth 595
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107014...


Subaru BRZ
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111109...


BMW Z4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109217...


Mazda MX-5 2.0i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110168...

[Poc854]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Here are my recommendations, in order of preference

Peugeot 308 GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...


Kia Ceed GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...


Renaultsport Megane
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110158...


Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...


Mini Cooper S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110238...


Ford Fiesta ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110309...


Renaultsport Clio 200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108226...


Abarth 595
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107014...


Subaru BRZ
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111109...


BMW Z4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109217...


Mazda MX-5 2.0i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110168...

I do like the Clio RS as well and that's such a nice example. Not sure on the giulietta or 308 tho, both look quite heavy and soft compared to some of the other choices.
That brz is really well priced, going to have a look into it